Lutheran Mission

Thursday, December 08, 2016

Are you tired of meaningless, throw-away gifts?Would you like to bless others as you bless family and friends with gifts at Christmas, for birthdays, on anniversaries?Then ALWS Gifts of Grace is for you!Whether you provide Welcome Meals in a Kenyan refugee camp … help build a school in South Sudan … give a farmer in Cambodia a piglet … or simply offer a family a Lutheran Long Drop Loo… you will bring love to life!There are 24 gifts to choose from, with six gifts under $10!NEW! We’ll send you a POP-UP Grace Card for each gift you choose.There are four joy-filled designs, and inside a photo and description of the gift you give. You also receive matching envelopes PLUS a receipt to claim your gifts as a tax deduction!You give the Grace Card as your gift to friends, family and work-mates. Meanwhile, our ALWS partners will deliver the care your gift represents.What a beautiful way to share your values and bring love to life!For more information visit http://www.alws.org.au/index.php/what-you-can-do/gifts-of-grace

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Carols and Readings services have become a special part of many congregations and schools Christmas worship.
Kings College in the UK, is recognised as the community who first began such services. Congregations and schools throughout the world have used, adapted and shared these services, which have become special to many people.
Following are some of the Carols and Readings services that congregations and schools have used and will use, plus a few additional resources.

"Within the solemn halls of the Lenten season, Christians gather around God s Word in repentance of sins, preparation for recalling their Savior s sacrifice, and thanksgiving for the crucifixion s redemptive power. The theology of the Lord s Supper mirrors this Lenten pilgrimage in many ways.In these daily devotions, readers arrive at a deeper appreciation of the Holy Meal instituted by Christ through a study of Scripture and both ancient and modern hymns. Each theme reveals a host of approaches to understanding the same gift: life-giving fruit, nourishment, healing, communion with the saints, rest, a priestly meal, the feast of victory, and more.Every day of Lent, meditate on and embrace these beautiful, biblical images and metaphors of the Lord s Supper in addition to the chief blessing and description of this Sacrament in Scripture: the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins, won for the world on Calvary and offered in the Sacrament of the Lord s body and blood truly makes this blessed Supper a salutary gift. "

Most of us experience theology in a head-in-the-clouds kind of way. We see the great theologians words soaring far above us. Each word is powerful and yet untouchable. But it doesn't have to be that way.Good theology was never meant to be out of reach! Martin Luther's work was revolutionary in part because of the invention of the printing press, giving his words more accessibility than ever before. Now five hundred years removed from Luther's lifetime, his works are as influential as ever . . . and left on a shelf by all but pastors and history buffs.Luther's commentary on Romans is an incredible but complicated commentary. Reading Romans with Luther offers a shortened version of this monumental commentary, featuring an attractive devotional format and imagery highlighting key portions of the text. Rather than a linear exploration of the original commentary, author RJ Grunewald takes readers on a thematic journey through the teachings in Romans. It's Luther but for everyday life!ChaptersChapter 1: Exposed Chapter 2: The Human Condition Chapter 3: A Worship Problem Chapter 4: The Old Man Chapter 5: Law and Gospel Chapter 6: The Bad News Chapter 7: The Power and Primacy of the Gospel Chapter 8: Righteousness Chapter 9: Sinners, Saints, and the Simul Chapter 10: Suffering Chapter 11: Grace That Changes Chapter 12: Gifts Appendix: A Word for Preachers 128Endorsements“The Gospel is,” as Martin Luther said, “the very heart of the Bible. And the Book of Romans is the very heart of the Gospel.” And though we love Romans itself and would like to read and understand what Luther had to say about it, many of us find it difficult to press through the antiquated language and unfamiliar phrasing that was common parlance five hundred years ago. And that’s where this wonderful book comes in. Helping the modern reader understand Luther’s thought as he processed Paul’s, this book makes deep theology simple and hopefully will open the door for new generations of believers to enjoy and cherish the truths that spawned the Reformation, particularly the shocking grace of God bestowed on shockingly sinful creatures.ELYSE M. FITZPATRICK, AUTHOR OF BECAUSE HE LOVES ME
Martin Luther didn’t just read Romans. He was changed by it. Romans left Luther undone by God’s message of a totally free righteousness. It’s the same message that lit a fire in Luther leading to the Reformation. What I love about this book is that it helps any and all join Luther in discovering and celebrating the message of God’s extravagant mercy as it’s uniquely presented in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Luther’s world-changing insights are all there and easy to grasp, made even more accessible by RJ’s personal and pastoral observations. Don’t just read Romans, read it with Luther and let its message of a totally free righteousness change you too.MATT POPOVITS, PASTOR OF OUR SAVIOUR NEW YORK ENDORSEMENTS
The Epistle to the Romans contains some of the Bible’s richest explorations of the Gospel. Luther’s commentary on Romans shows how great a theologian—that is, an expositor of Scripture—he is. In this book, RJ Grunewald serves up extracts from both St. Paul and Luther and then explains and applies them in an utterly fresh, contemporary, and illuminating way. With its three voices—those of St. Paul, Luther, and Rev. Grunewald—this book is a highly original, extremely readable treatment of our justification by Christ. Laypeople will read it with pleasure and give it to their non-Christian friends.GENE E. VEITH JR., AUTHOR OF THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE CROSS
RJ has done it again. He has taken the deep and sometimes hardto-navigate writings of Martin Luther and has not only given us a road map to understanding but also taken our hand and gently led us along the path. This book is rich. This book is relatable. This book is beautiful. Buy it. You won’t regret it.JESSICA THOMPSON, SPEAKER AND AUTHOR OF GIVE THEM GRACE
Rightly understanding the Book of Romans is critical to rightly understanding the entire Bible. RJ Grunewald’s Reading Romans with Luther is a fantastic resource that will help you better comprehend the Book of Romans and give you the biblical understanding necessary to understand the depth of our sinful condition, the magnitude of God’s grace and mercy, how to properly appropriate Law and Gospel, and how to correctly understand how good works flow from faith into the lives of believers without slipping back into works-righteousness. This is a wonderful little book.CHRIS ROSEBOROUGH, PASTOR AND CAPTAIN OF PIRATECHRISTIAN.COM

The LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) encourage church planting with a biblical basis and focus....

Many of the congregations of the LCMC arose due to hurts

So the first step they recommend is that if this is the case for you and those who you are looking to church plant with, that you take some time to heal from a time of struggle, to spend time in prayer, participate in a worshipping community and spend time in reflection. It is very important that anyone hurting comes to terms with their loss, and begin working toward forgiveness and healing.

But planting a church is not just being called out of a situation, it is being called to a situation!!

Jesus’ call is always for a purpose.

In their article they explore the steps that are involved in being called to plant a church with a Jesus centred purpose:

Consider the Great Commission

Take time to reflect on, discuss and decide what is the mission, vision and purpose God has called us to.

About Me

Currently I am the pastor of the Sydney Lutheran Parish - City and Northern Beaches.
Between 2009 and 2016 I was the pastor of the Portland-Heywood Lutheran Church.
Between 2005 and 2009 I was the Pastor of the North Tasmania Lutheran Parish, which is responsible for ministry and mission in North Tasmania through congregations at Burnie, Devonport and Launceston.